Combined cap, valve and dispensing spout for liquid containers



A ril 21, 1959 D. P. ARRAVEcCI-HA 2,883,091 COMBINED CAP, VALVE AND'DISPENSING SPOU'I FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed May 24, 1957 INVENTOR. boMENlcK P. buzzkvemum ATTORNEYS COlVIBlNED CAP, VALVE AND DISPENSING SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Domenick P. Barravecchia, Westerly, R.I. Application May 24, 1957, Serial No. 661,408 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-517) This invention relates, in general, to a dispensing spout for liquid containers, the spout being combined with valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the spout as it is being dispensed therethrough.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a bottle cap with means for releasably securing the cap across an open end of a container, the cap serving as a support for a valved spout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein the spout is pivotally mounted on the cap and in one of its positions establishes communication with the container in order that the liquid therein may be dispensed, and wherein the spout may be swung to a second position to destroy the communication between the spout and container and thereby preventing the liquid from being dispensed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the type described with unique means for releasably securing the device on the open end of a container.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a combined liquid dispensing spout and valve which may be inexpensively manufactured, which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the combined liquid dispensing spout and valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, the combined spout and valve being illustrated as it appears when connected to the open end of a neck of a liquid container;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detailed cross sectional view, partly in elevation, the view being taken on the vertical plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a detailed cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a detailed cross sectional view similar to Figure 2, Figure 5 illustrating the relative position of the several elements of the device prior to the connection thereof with the container.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral designates, in general, a combined spout and valve for connection with a liquid container the contents of which is to be dispensed. The combined valve and spout 10 is supported on a cap 14 and includes a substantially hollow cylindrical member 16 having an integrally formed clip 18 depending therefrom. The upper end of the hollow cylindrical member 16 is pro vided with an integrally formed inwardly extending annular flange 20.

25,883,091 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 An annular member 22 is superimposed on the an- 1 nular flange 20 and is secured thereto by conventional means. As is seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the openings 24, 26 of the armular flange 20 and the annular member 22, respectively, are coaxially aligned and have the same diameter. The annular member 22 is provided with an integrally formed laterally and outwardly extending tongue 28 from which depend a pair of laterally spaced integrally formed standards 30, 32.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a substantially U-shaped lever which includes a bight 36 from the end of which projects a pair of laterally spaced and substantially paral lel side arms 38, 40. As is seen in Figure 2, the bight 36 is longer than the width of the side arms 38, 4t), and the bight 36 terminates in an upwardly inclined flange 42 forming a second clip. From Figures 2 and 4 it will be seen that the outer ends of the clips 18 and 42 terminate in arcuately shaped ends 44, 46, respectively. The lever 34 is pivotally supported on a pivot pin 48 which extends through the side arms 38, 40 and has its respective opposite ends fixedly secured to the standards 30, 32.

Reference numeral 50 designates, in general, a second lever. This lever is seen to be substantially U-shaped in configuration and includes a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel side Walls 52, 54. The side walls 52, 54 are provided with cam surfaces 56, 58 at their respective upper ends which continue into the substantially planar extensions 60, 62. The bight 64 of the second lever 50 extends beyond the side walls 52, 54 to form means for manually operating the lever 54. The second lever 50 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 66 which extends through the end walls 52, 54 and has its respective ends fixedly secured to and supported on the side arms 38, 40 adjacent their respective outer ends.

The annular member 22 is seen to include a pair of diametrically opposed laterally spaced and substantially parallel support members 70, 72, the function of which will be explained in detail below.

A resilient sealing element 74, formed of rubber or of other similar materials, is disposed within the hollow cylindrical member 16 and has a portion thereof abutting against the annular flange 20. The resilient sealing element 74 is provided with a boss 76 which projects through the openings 24, 26 and terminates in a plane substantially flush with the upper surface of the annular member 22. The element 74 and the boss 76 are provided with a countersunk recess 78, the recess being in open communication with a centrally positioned passage 80 which extends transversely therethrough. For reasons set forth in detail below, the lower inner end of the recess 78 terminates in an annular upstanding rib 81.

Reference numeral 82 designates, in general, a substantially spherical valve. An elongated substantially tubular member 84, comprising a spout, has one of its ends integrally connected with the valve 32. The hollow tubular member 84, at its inner end, is in open communication with the bore 86 which extends transversely through the spherical valve 82. The spherical valve 82 is pivotally supported on and connected to the support members 70, 72 by means of a pair of diametrically opposed pivot pins 88, 90. As is seen in the drawing, the valve 82 is received within the countersunk recess 78, the valve 82 and the spout 34 being formed of a relatively rigid nondistortable plastic material.

The above described device 10 is designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional beverage containing bottle having a reduced neck portion 92 which terminates in a beaded end 94. To utilize the device 10, reference is made specifically to Figure 5 of the drawings. In this figure the component elements of the device 10 are illustrated in their respective positions as the combined cap, valve and spout device 10 is being connected to the open end of a bottle 12. As shown in this figure, a portion of the head 94 of the bottle 12 is received within the hollow cylindrical member 16 and abuts against the adjacent side of the resilient sealing element 74. The clip 18 is made to engage around the bead 94 after which the bight 64 is pivoted downwardly in a counter clockwise direction to cause the flange 42 to engage below the bead 94 on the opposite side of the bottle 12. As the bight 64 is rotated in the manner described, the cam surfaces 56, 58 ride against the under side of the tongue 28 and the flange 42 becomes fixedly locked against the bead 94 when the planar extensions 60, 62 engage against the underside of the tongue 28.

With the combined cap, valve and spout now secured on the bottle 12, the body portion of the spherical valve 82 extends across the passage 80 thereby preventing the passage of liquid through the valve and through the hollow tubular spout 84. When it is desired to dispense the contents of the bottle 12 it is only necessary for the operator to pivot the valve from its closed position shown in Figure to its open position illustrated in Figure 2 whereby the bore 86 is aligned with the passage 70 thereby establishing communication between the hollow tubular spout 84 and the interior of the bottle 12.

When the entire contents of the bottle 12 have been dispensed, the unit may be easily removed therefrom through the simple expedient of rotating the bight 64 in a clockwise direction to cause the lever 34 to pivot and effect disengagement of the flange 42 from beneath the bottle head 94.

It should be noted that the valve 82 is so mounted as to effect a liquid tight seal against the countersunk recess 78, but is free enough topelmit the spout 84 to pivot through an arc of substantially 180, as is illustrated in the phantom line showing of Figure 2. Of importance, however, is the fact that as the valve 82 moves from its open full line position of Figure 2 to either of its closed positions of Figures 2 and S, the rib 31 becomes compressed and, in turn, compresses adjacent portions of the boss 76 more tightly against the valve 82.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by Way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure member for a liquid receptacle, said member comprising a hollow cylindrical member having an inwardly extending annular flange at an end thereof, a tongue fixedly secured to and projecting laterally away from said annular flange, a resilient sealing element disposed within said cylindrical member, said sealing element having a centrally positioned passage extending therethrough and at one of its ends being in open communication with one end of a countersunk recess formed in one side of said sealing element, means connected with said cylindrical member and said tongue to releasably secure said closure member on said receptacle, a spherical valve seated in said recess, said valve having a passage extending therethrough, a hollow tubular member fixedly secured to said valve and having an end thereof communicating with said last named passage, and means projecting laterally away from said annular flange pivotally supporting said valve thereon so that said tubular member may be pivoted into and out of alignment with said passage and recess of said sealing element.

2. A closure member for a liquid receptacle having a beaded open end, said closure member comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member having an inwardly extending annular flange at an end thereof and a bead engaging clip depending from the other end of said cylindrical member, an annular member superimposed on and fixedly secured to said annular flange, said annular flange and said annular member being coaxially aligned and of substantially the same diameter, a resilient sealing element disposed within said cylindrical member and having a boss integrally formed therewith, said boss extending into said annular flange and annular member, said boss having a countersunk recess formed therein, said sealing element having a passage extending transversely therethrough and communicating with said recess, said annular member having a tongue integrally formed therewith and projecting laterally therefrom, a lever pivotally mounted on said tongue, said lever having a bead engaging flange at an end thereof, said head engaging flange being pivotal towards and away from said head to releasably secure said closure member on said receptacle, means securing said lever with said flange engaging said head, a spherical valve having a bore extending therethrough, an elongated hollow tubular member having an end thereof integrally connected with said valve and in open communication with said bore, said valve being seated within said countersunk recess, and means on said annular member pivotally connecting said valve thereon.

3. A closure member as defined in claim 2 wherein said last named means comprise a pair of diametrically opposed support members integrally formed with said annular member and projecting away therefrom, and pivot pulls mounted on said support members and engaging said va ve.

4. A closure member for a liquid receptacle having a beaded open end, said closure member comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member having an inwardly extending annular flange at one end thereof and a bead engaging clip depending from the other end of sand cylindrical member, an annular member superposed on and fixedly secured to said annular flange with the openings in said annular flange and annular member being coaxially aligned and of substantially the same diameter, a resilient sealing element disposed within said cylindrical member and having a boss integrally formed therewith, said boss being positioned within said openings, said boss having a countersunk recess formed there- 1n, said sealing element having a passage extending transversely therethrough and communicating with said recess, said annular member having a tongue integrally formed therewith and projecting laterally therefrom, said tongue having a standard depending from each side thereof, said standards being integrally formed with said tongue and disposed in laterally spaced and substantially parallel relation, a substantially U-shaped lever having a pair of opposed side arms and a bight, means pivotally connectmg said side arms with said standards, said bight having a terminal portion bent at an acute angle with respect thereto and extending toward said cylindrical member, a substantially U-shaped second lever, said second lever including a bight having a pair of laterally spaced side walls projecting therefrom, one end of said side walls having cam surfaces which continue into planar extensions, means pivotally connecting said side walls with said side arms adjacent the outer free ends of the latter, said last named lever being pivotal to pivot said first named lever in such a direction to cause said last named flange to move inwardly toward and engage against said head with said planar surface engaging against said tongue to releasably secure said closure member on said receptacle, and means pivotally supporting said valve in said countersunk recess.

5. A closure member as defined in claim 4 wherein said last named means comprises a pair of diametrically opposed support members integrally formed with said annular member and projecting laterally away therefrom, and pivot pins mounted on said support arms and penetrating said valve.

6. A closure member for a liquid receptacle having a beaded open end, said closure member comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member having an inwardly extending annular flange at one end thereof and a bead engaging clip depending from the other end of said cylindrical member, an annular member superposed on and fixedly secured to said annular flange with the openings in said annular flange and annular member being coaxially aligned and of substantially the same diameter,

'a resilient sealing element disposed within said cylindrical member and having a boss integrally formed therewith, said boss being positioned within said openings, said boss having a countersunk recess formed therein, said sealing element having a passage extending transversely therethrough and communicating with said recess, an annular rib positioned at the junction of said recess and said passage, said annular member having a tongue integrally formed therewith and projecting laterally therefrom, said tongue having a standard depending from each side thereof, said standards being intgerally formed with said tongue and disposed in laterally spaced and substantially parallel relation, a substantially U-shaped lever having a pair of opposed side arms and a bight, means pivotally connecting said side arms with said standards, said bight having a terminal portion bent at an acute angle with respect thereto and extending toward said cylindrical member, a substantially U-shaped second lever, said second lever including a bight having a pair of laterally spaced side walls projecting therefrom, one end of said side walls having cam surfaces which continue into planar extensions, means pivotally connecting said side walls with said side arms adjacent the outer free ends of the latter, said last named lever being pivotal to pivot said first named lever in such a direction as to cause said last named flange to move inwardly toward and engage against said head with said planar surface engaging against said tongue to releasably secure said closure member on said receptacle, and means pivotally supporting said valve in liquid tight sealing engagement against said countersunk recess, said valve engaging against said annular rib to compress more tightly adjacent portions of said boss against said valve as said valve is moved from its open to its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,668 Zayan Feb. 8, 1955 

